Dover District Council has unveiled new plans to help with the cost of living.

Alongside a new Cost of Living Plan, we are launching an £85,000 Cost of Living Community Impact Fund. There is also a new web page providing a range of information and resources to help residents cope with the costs of everyday living.

The Community Impact Fund was approved at a meeting of DDC's Cabinet last night.

• More on help with cost of living

We’re contacting households to make sure that the electoral register is up to date.

Reminder forms for those who have not yet responded are being posted this week.

Follow the instructions and get back to us as soon as you can, so you're ready to vote in upcoming elections.

• More on elections

Dover District Council is set to roll out plans to introduce new wheeled bins for garden waste collections from April 2024, bringing DDC in line with other Kent authorities.

This follows a decision by DDC’s Cabinet at its meeting last night, (4 September).

The change from garden waste sacks to wheeled bins is designed to make it easier and safer to lift and move garden waste going forward.

• More on garden waste collections

A range of regeneration investment continues to shape the future of the district.

Demolition works are well underway in Bench Street, Dover. The demolition is expected to be completed in October 2023.

A further round of public consultation on the plans for the redevelopment of the Bench Street site is set to take place ahead of a formal planning application in March 2024.

• More on regeneration projects

A range of works has been completed around Guildhall Square in Sandwich, including highways reconfiguration work, improved seating, tree planting and lighting, as well as major resurfacing work. 

The work has created a larger, more accessible and more flexible public space, and the area is now being used for a variety of great events in Sandwich.

Works followed consultation with the public, and continued work with Sandwich Town Council and the local community.

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The installation of a new bridge across the A2 in Whitfield has marked a key milestone in the delivery of Dover Fastrack, Dover's new zero emission electric bus route.

The 60 hour operation to lift and secure the new bridge in place across the A2 was successfully undertaken by contractors in July.  A 150 tonne crane was used to straddle the A2 and lift five beams weighing 30 tonnes each into place.

Fastrack is due to open in early 2024.

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As we continue to invest for the future, and shine a light on key attractions, DDC is set to carry out a full structural survey of Deal Pier and carry out any immediate repairs as necessary.

This follows a decision taken by Cabinet yesterday.

We've also been replacing lights on the main stem of the pier, replacing shelter lights with LEDs, and upgrading the lighting around the pier cafe.

• More on Deal Pier

DDC continues to invest in new affordable housing across the district and green solutions for the future. 

A range of new housing developments includes two low-carbon council homes built by DDC in Foxborough Close in Woodnesborough (see picture).

The semi-detached three-bed homes in Woodnesborough near Sandwich have been packed with green technology, resulting in a 75% reduction in carbon emissions.

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DDC Community Services joined forces with partners for a Summer Safety Event in August, and worked with Folkestone and Hythe District Council to encourage people to love your beach this summer. 

DDC also hosted a ceremony in July in Kearsney Abbey to reward some of our community's local environmental heroes, with this year's REACH awards (pictured). 

Figures from our Annual CCTV Report show 3,655 incidents were captured on camera across the district in 22/23. Of those, 1,785 required the attendance of Kent Police and resulted in 279 arrests. 

• More on environmental protection